During the campaign, his lawyer, Michael Cohen said that the United States was like a big business and the President was the CEO. He stated that who better to lead the country than Donald Trump? I have heard that refrain from many that Trump supporters that he is now running America like a business — and that is a good thing .

While I am not sure the federal government should run like a company, Donald Trump doesn’t run it like a business. I do not think any CEO would ever operate a big business like Trump has “run” America.

Here are a few examples:

  1. Hiring a first-rate team. Trump promised to hire the best and the brightest. Most of his team has been anything but that. It has been filled with managers that have no experience in the leadership positions they have been put in or worse have specifically stated they want to work against the goal of their particular organization. Their biggest qualifications is having a lower level job with the Trump organization previously. For example, the large company CEO’s I know are not in the habit putting a person in charge of sales that has never had a sales job.
  2. Management turnover. Trump has lost or fired 40% of his top management team in the last year. In a business, losing senior management is a sign that a company is not doing well especially if you hired them recently. In the Trump administration, there are reports that anyone could be fired next and  this breeds anxiety and mistrust.
  3. Making all decisions alone. Trump consistently said that he “alone” can solve all the problems. He makes snap judgements and then reverses himself yet again. The best businesses have a leader who consults their senior management team before making important decisions.
  4. Sexual harassment issues. Trump has been accused by multiple women. This past year, any executive who has been simply accused of the same thing Trump has been is no longer with that company and has been forced to resign by their board.
  5. Needing constant praise. Trump needs to be in a constant bubble where it is all about him. He yearns for constant praise from his subordinates. Leaders that need this typically don’t last long being isolated. Most business leaders have humility and can express when they made a mistake. We have rarely (if ever) heard Trump admit to making a mistake.
  6. Vindictiveness. Trump frequently lashes out at his staff on Twitter for things he thinks they have done wrong. Imagine a CEO going on Twitter to personally criticize their employees? I have never seen this happen.
  7. Running at a financial deficit. With Trump’s tax reform, the country will go another $1.5 trillion into debt. Now, with the new spending bill for the next fiscal year, it goes further into more debit. While this fact is not isolated to the Trump administration, remember that no business could run on a constant deficit without making a profit.

Got feedback? Leave your politics at the door and tell me how you think Trump is or is not running the country like a business based on examples.